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D.I. Mahoney #1
High Beam
Something is very rotten in the state of Tasmania. Brad Finch, the marquee player of the Tassie Devils Football Club, is the victim at the heart of a new murder mystery.Intense media interest, interfering superior officers and corrupt business interests all threaten to derail the homicide investigation conducted by the Serious Crimes Squad. Forensic analysis, dogged detective work and inspiration may prove insufficient in the search for the true perpetrators. The team must face unpalatable truths about the nature of professional sport and the exercise of power in modern Australian society. Detective Inspector John Mahoney, the hero of this international crime series of police procedurals, is an outsider in his hometown of Hobart. Disillusioned by his private life and shocked by the corruption he unearths he queries his capacity to continue in the job. He must decide if he has the courage to 'speak truth to power'.Scottish author, Quintin Jardine, has called HIGH BEAM "a first novel that is a seriously welcome addition to the Australian thriller genre. It's tight and gripping from the start. Leading to a conclusion that will leave you dazzled as if you'd been caught in the headlights of the title."
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 2014
5 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
S.J. Brown
4 books9 followerssjbrown is the pen-name of Hobart author, Stephen Brown. His novels are set in his home state of Tasmania: a locale he seeks to explore thoroughly via the Detective Inspector Mahoney series of police procedural investigations.
When not writing the latest instalment in the series he is to be found tour-guiding overseas visitors around the state: a welcome vocational change after many years in the classroom!
A long-term fan of the crime fiction genre his reading preferences are works by Peter Robinson, Ian Rankin and James Lee Burke. Naturally, his aim is to create narratives that resound with readers to the same extent as his role models.
His work will appeal to readers seeking distinctive settings, intriguing characterisation, and narratives that reflect the complex nature of detective work.
His world of TasNoir is proving to be very popular with readers across the globe.
When not writing the latest instalment in the series he is to be found tour-guiding overseas visitors around the state: a welcome vocational change after many years in the classroom!
A long-term fan of the crime fiction genre his reading preferences are works by Peter Robinson, Ian Rankin and James Lee Burke. Naturally, his aim is to create narratives that resound with readers to the same extent as his role models.
His work will appeal to readers seeking distinctive settings, intriguing characterisation, and narratives that reflect the complex nature of detective work.
His world of TasNoir is proving to be very popular with readers across the globe.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 17, 2018
High Beam was a book I couldn't wait to get hold of. Set in Tassie where I live, it promised much. However, the old adage of show don't tell seems to have been ignored to a large degree. The book could have done with a good pruning. However, the story itself was intriguing and I'm planning on reading another of his novels to see if the pace can be picked up a little.
July 5, 2018
‘John Mahoney rarely took risks.’
DI John Mahoney has recently returned to Hobart, Tasmania. While John Mahoney is relatively happy to be back in Hobart, returns are never easy. Things have changed while he was away, and not always for the better. Quite separate from his dissatisfaction with his private life, John Mahoney is increasingly concerned about some of the actions taken by his senior officers. Is it micromanagement, or interference?
And then, Brad Finch is murdered. Brad Finch was a key player in the Tassie Devils Football Club, and everyone wants answers. There’s intense media scrutiny, superior officers who want to be seen getting the answers needed (or do they?) and more than a few business interests involved.
The more DI Mahoney investigates, the more questions he finds need answers. Who killed Brad Finch, and why?
I mostly enjoyed this novel (at fewer than 260 pages it’s a comparatively quick read). Why did I enjoy it? Well, it’s set in my home state for one thing and there are some great lines such as:
‘Dr Samuel Johnson was not given to verbal circumlocution: indeed he was almost taciturn.’
Okay, it’s a different Doctor Samuel Johnson, but I’m sometimes easily amused.
At times I thought there was unnecessary description, but it didn’t really detract from my enjoyment.
This is the first novel in a series, and there are two further books (so far). I’ve added those novels to my reading list: I’m always keen to read fiction set in Tasmania, and I want to learn a little more about DI John Mahoney.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
DI John Mahoney has recently returned to Hobart, Tasmania. While John Mahoney is relatively happy to be back in Hobart, returns are never easy. Things have changed while he was away, and not always for the better. Quite separate from his dissatisfaction with his private life, John Mahoney is increasingly concerned about some of the actions taken by his senior officers. Is it micromanagement, or interference?
And then, Brad Finch is murdered. Brad Finch was a key player in the Tassie Devils Football Club, and everyone wants answers. There’s intense media scrutiny, superior officers who want to be seen getting the answers needed (or do they?) and more than a few business interests involved.
The more DI Mahoney investigates, the more questions he finds need answers. Who killed Brad Finch, and why?
I mostly enjoyed this novel (at fewer than 260 pages it’s a comparatively quick read). Why did I enjoy it? Well, it’s set in my home state for one thing and there are some great lines such as:
‘Dr Samuel Johnson was not given to verbal circumlocution: indeed he was almost taciturn.’
Okay, it’s a different Doctor Samuel Johnson, but I’m sometimes easily amused.
At times I thought there was unnecessary description, but it didn’t really detract from my enjoyment.
This is the first novel in a series, and there are two further books (so far). I’ve added those novels to my reading list: I’m always keen to read fiction set in Tasmania, and I want to learn a little more about DI John Mahoney.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
February 12, 2024
I've been looking for modern crime fiction set in Australia - particularly Tasmania - and this looked promising.
What to Expect
A police procedural set in Hobart, where money makes things happen including a new AFL club and stadium (this is a bit of fantasy, and still a sore point). We are introduced to the cast of characters over a few days, until one of them inevitably ends up dead. From that point on the police are doing their best to find who's responsible, while we are left guessing at the exact culprits and their motives as well, based on the information we know and suspect.
What I liked
I liked the characters and the tone of the book, and loved the setting in Hobart. Life in the novel has a very Australian feel to it. DI Mahoney has his name on the cover, but true to modern police work it's a team effort. The villains also make for good characters, and one can see them as real life people.
What to be aware of
The main murder only happens about a quarter of the way in, after quite a bit of set-up with the others. There are also many a tangent into the politics of AFL (Australian Football) clubs and the lives and machinations of the people in the story. These serve to enrich the flavour of the story, but it isn't fast-paced.
Felix's Review
Felix is used more to detective mysteries, or at least novels where the crime is introduced pretty quick. For him, the interest is usually in how a detective deduces culprits from clues, less about adhering to strict police procedures . That said, he approved of DI Mahoney's method (including the occasional off-the-record deviation).
Summary
It's a good read, heavy on the Tassie (and generally Aussie) scene, with interesting characters. Not too demanding or confronting, a straightforward police-procedural crime novel where the main questions are around motive and ultimate culpability than the technicalities of the death.
Enjoying the reviews, but wondering who the heck is that Felix fellow? Glad you asked! He's the protagonist of the Togas, Daggers, and Magic series, an historical-fantasy blend of a paranormal detective on the background of ancient Rome.
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
What to Expect
A police procedural set in Hobart, where money makes things happen including a new AFL club and stadium (this is a bit of fantasy, and still a sore point). We are introduced to the cast of characters over a few days, until one of them inevitably ends up dead. From that point on the police are doing their best to find who's responsible, while we are left guessing at the exact culprits and their motives as well, based on the information we know and suspect.
What I liked
I liked the characters and the tone of the book, and loved the setting in Hobart. Life in the novel has a very Australian feel to it. DI Mahoney has his name on the cover, but true to modern police work it's a team effort. The villains also make for good characters, and one can see them as real life people.
What to be aware of
The main murder only happens about a quarter of the way in, after quite a bit of set-up with the others. There are also many a tangent into the politics of AFL (Australian Football) clubs and the lives and machinations of the people in the story. These serve to enrich the flavour of the story, but it isn't fast-paced.
Felix's Review
Felix is used more to detective mysteries, or at least novels where the crime is introduced pretty quick. For him, the interest is usually in how a detective deduces culprits from clues, less about adhering to strict police procedures . That said, he approved of DI Mahoney's method (including the occasional off-the-record deviation).
Summary
It's a good read, heavy on the Tassie (and generally Aussie) scene, with interesting characters. Not too demanding or confronting, a straightforward police-procedural crime novel where the main questions are around motive and ultimate culpability than the technicalities of the death.
--
Enjoying the reviews, but wondering who the heck is that Felix fellow? Glad you asked! He's the protagonist of the Togas, Daggers, and Magic series, an historical-fantasy blend of a paranormal detective on the background of ancient Rome.
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
December 15, 2024
This book is a lively romp through beautiful Hobart, which was exactly what I was hoping for. The pacing and plotting felt solid and I was swept up in the story enough to stay up late to finish it. I’ll probably carry on and read the second book at some point, but there were a couple of things that got under my skin that I hope don’t persist throughout the series. There were some basic errors that rankled me (then/than always turns my teeth sideways) and a dropped word or two, or worse, the same descriptor used twice in a single sentence. A good editor/proofreader should have picked these things up prior to publishing. More annoying, women were consistently referred to as females rather than women which I know is supposed to come across as cop talk but ended up sounding a bit more like dog breeding, and their attractiveness was summarized upon introduction I believe without fail. Lots of talk about limbs, skin and body parts. Some of that can be fun but it was overkill. It left me feeling like the author was not very tuned in to the fullness of any of these women’s character. Most were hot, horny and fairly smart, but definitely came across as women seen only through a very male lens. It also seemed to wander a bit at the end, looking for the right moment to dismount. Having said that, it was still a very fun read and I think a solid debut novel. I’ll read a couple of palette cleansers in between and come back for more DI Mahoney adventure.
January 10, 2021
A genuinely enjoyable novel set in Hobart, with frequent accurate reference to local locations (Osborne Esplanade etc), and a fairly obvious, but still intriguing murder for the local police to solve. John Mahoney is the refreshingly untroubled by demons DI who leads a team, including two well-drawn male and female offsiders, to identify the killer of a star of the Tassie Devils AFL team, which connects to a Uni lecturer, affairs and local power-brokers. Some very clumsy dialogue and inapt cultural references detract but a promising start to a series.
February 1, 2022
A very good first book - riveting story, great descriptive "sense of place", believable plot & characters, & well paced. But let down by some overly preachy explanations & sometimes weak dialogue. Another round with an editor would have been good. But I will certainly be reading the author's next efforts.
February 11, 2019
Please i just want to read more about D.I Mahoney. I like the crew and the stories in the books.
May 26, 2021
Slow burn but worth it
It took a while to get into this book but I enjoyed the characters and descriptions of Tasmania, worth persisting with
It took a while to get into this book but I enjoyed the characters and descriptions of Tasmania, worth persisting with
February 7, 2022
Very clever writing, akin to Donna Leon!
D.I. Mahoney doesn’t just solve the crime, it’s more about showing respect for the victim
D.I. Mahoney doesn’t just solve the crime, it’s more about showing respect for the victim
January 29, 2024
Nice easy read, reasonably well paced but not much in the way of suspense as the “who did it” was pretty well stated.
May 6, 2025
Tasmanian murder mystery that got off to a slow start, but an enjoyable read featuring a trio of detectives with distinct personalities. I learned quite a few australian colloquialisms as well.
May 13, 2015
A debut novel, HIGH BEAM is set in Hobart, Tasmania featuring DI John Mahoney. Mahoney has recently returned to his hometown and is an unhappy man in his personal and professional lives. The death of high profile victim Brad Finch doesn't make him any happier what with time pressures from above, intense media interest and a lot of shady goings on in the world of the Tassie Devils Football Club and the business interests of its board and supporters.
Non-fans of football might find it hard to understand why it is that a football club can be the centre of such power and shenanigans, but in Australia, football is frequently equated with some form of religion. Which probably explains why this reader has an allergy to the game, and everything to do with it. Which made the idea that there was skullduggery afoot slightly more interesting than you'd think.
Mahoney would be a tricky customer to work with. He's taciturn but dedicated, disillusioned and just a bit bitter about the way that power is being corrupted in his hometown. And he's trying hard to work out how far he's prepared to stick his own neck out.
HIGH BEAM does suffer from overwordiness. As is the way with many debut novels, there is a tendency to tell the reader... everything. Which leads to great screeds of description, background, thoughts, opinions, observations and information, leaving little opportunity for the reader to draw their own conclusions. Whilst it can be argued that much of this description is elegantly done, in this genre and format it's not necessarily preferable. Especially when it often feels like it is taking forever to get anywhere in the plot. Too frequently the narrative simply becomes too dense and forced, which is a pity as some aspects of the plot are good, albeit not necessarily all that difficult to predict. On the upside, whilst there's nothing particularly new about the idea of an outsider central protagonist, Mahoney has potential to be interesting, as does the setting. He's got a good team around him and the use of Hobart as a location has much appeal as a small enclosed society.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
Non-fans of football might find it hard to understand why it is that a football club can be the centre of such power and shenanigans, but in Australia, football is frequently equated with some form of religion. Which probably explains why this reader has an allergy to the game, and everything to do with it. Which made the idea that there was skullduggery afoot slightly more interesting than you'd think.
Mahoney would be a tricky customer to work with. He's taciturn but dedicated, disillusioned and just a bit bitter about the way that power is being corrupted in his hometown. And he's trying hard to work out how far he's prepared to stick his own neck out.
HIGH BEAM does suffer from overwordiness. As is the way with many debut novels, there is a tendency to tell the reader... everything. Which leads to great screeds of description, background, thoughts, opinions, observations and information, leaving little opportunity for the reader to draw their own conclusions. Whilst it can be argued that much of this description is elegantly done, in this genre and format it's not necessarily preferable. Especially when it often feels like it is taking forever to get anywhere in the plot. Too frequently the narrative simply becomes too dense and forced, which is a pity as some aspects of the plot are good, albeit not necessarily all that difficult to predict. On the upside, whilst there's nothing particularly new about the idea of an outsider central protagonist, Mahoney has potential to be interesting, as does the setting. He's got a good team around him and the use of Hobart as a location has much appeal as a small enclosed society.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
October 19, 2016
Good read for a first up novel by the author
Includes a history lesson on Tassie - looking forward to the sequel in October - I will recommend to others
Includes a history lesson on Tassie - looking forward to the sequel in October - I will recommend to others
October 20, 2015
Some likeable characters. A quite believable story with some very close insights to the Tasmanian character. Where to next with Mahoney?
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews